Ellsbury came to the plate with one out in the ninth and the game tied at 2-2, and drove a pitch into the outfield against Cleveland reliever Vinnie Pestano to end the game.

With the win, the Red Sox (67-41) maintained their one-game lead in both the division and the American League over the New York Yankees (66-42), who beat the Chicago White Sox in a rain-shortened affair.

Boston starter Josh Beckett allowed two runs in six innings of a no-decision, as the home side fell 2-1 behind before Kevin Youkilis tied the game with a solo homer in the sixth.